Council Sets Fees For Glastonbury Riverfront Park Launch, Boathouse

GLASTONBURY — With the second phase of the Riverfront Park expected to open in mid-September, the town council Tuesday set the fees to launch and store boats there, and also to rent the boathouse.

Noting that there won't be much of the boating season left by the time the launch is opened, the council approved a plan to charge residents $10 and nonresidents $20 to launch boats into the Connecticut River. But when the 2015 season opens, residents will pay $20 with nonresidents $40 to launch their vessels.

Work on the $12 million Riverfront Park expansion is nearing completion and also will include a handicapped-accessible playground, a lighted basketball court, an ice-skating area, a picnic area, a fountain, hiking trails along the river and a pavilion.

"This is a great opportunity to pass on one great recreational opportunity for the citizens of Glastonbury whether they are boaters or not," Councilman William T. Finn said.

Councilman Lawrence J. Byar said that because the town already was asking taxpayers to pay quite a bit of money for the project, he suggested that fees for the remainder of 2014 be eliminated for residents and set at $10 for nonresidents. But others on the council disagreed.

The plan also calls for an area where people launch canoes, kayaks and crew shells. There is no fee to launch those watercraft. But residents who want to store their non-motorized watercraft indoors will have to pay $550 per season; nonresidents would pay $600. Those storing their boats outside will pay $100 and $120, respectively.

Town Manager Richard J. Johnson said the pricing is based on similar facilities, adding that the town's boathouse will not be in danger of flooding, and has other amenities, so the fees are higher than other locations along the river.

The council also supported fees for renting the banquet facilities on the boathouse's second floor. Johnson said the pricing model was developed and endorsed by the Connecticut Convention and Sports Bureau. General rental fees were broken down Monday through Fridays, Friday night and Saturday, Sundays and holidays.

The facility will be available in 4- or 6-hour blocks Monday through Friday. The rate ranges from $675 to $900 during the hours of 7 a.m.-4 p.m. From 4 p.m. to midnight, the fee ranges from $1,125 to $1,575. On Friday night, the fee range is $1,350 to $1,800. On weekends and holidays, the fee for four hours is $2,850 and $3,850 for six hours. Space for an outdoor tent is $750.

Johnson said the public will have access to the deck on the second floor when no events are scheduled.

"That's our goal," he said. "If you want to go up on a Saturday morning or afternoon and you want to watch life go by, so be it."